Kill Me Instead

“The Good Guy” by Dean Koontz
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 978-0-553-80481-2

As a writer, Koontz is improving. I found that this novel had very little rambling about his characters and scenes. His development of characters was amazing. I found that even though I despised the evil character, Krait, I was just as attached to him as I was the main characters, Tim and Linda.

This novel had a very interesting and scary plot. What made this Novel so intensely frightening was that it was a plausible situation. It is a plot that could very well be happening or could happen to anyone that unknowingly was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Krait had received payment by his “people” numerous times previously to kill. This time, the payment was for Linda. In a strange mix-up, Tim was given the money to perform the hit on Linda and refused to give it to the killer, Krait. Instead, Tim took it upon himself to save Linda from the determined killer. A cat-mouse chase ensues where Tim and Linda are unable to escape Krait and eventually they must face him.

I do not think the reader is totally surprised by the ending, but what is surprising is what we learn about the characters and why the mission to kill Linda took place. Anyone that enjoys crime novels, mystery, and suspense will find this a very entertaining read.

Remove books from a library?

As parents and educators, we may want to protect our children. However, it is important to remember that individuals must make their own choices in life. We should strive for our children and students to have opportunities that will enhance their understanding of different beliefs, cultures, and value systems which will enable our children and students to make informed decisions.

Second, even though as individuals we all have our own ideals it is equally important for us (as a society) to remember that there are other opinions and ideas present in the world and we should not be ethnocentric concerning those ideas. We should not limit our or others desire to explore literature whether we agree with it or not.

Finally, if we enable different education boars to limit what can be placed or taken out of school libraries, we send a message to those children that material that one group of individuals does not agree with should be censored or removed and students should not be individuals free to delve into what ever topics that spark their interest in the educational system.

Therefore, I agree with the Pico case decision in which local school boards should “not be permitted to remove books from school libraries simply because it dislikes the ideas contained in the books” (Alexander, 2001, p. 289).

Reference:
Alexander, K., Alexander, M. D. (2001). American Public School Law. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.